US5398309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for generating composite images using multiple local masks
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1993-05-17
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Granted: 1995-03-14
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Expires: 2013-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for generating a composite image from multiple source images using multiple local masks. Each source image is generated by an image generator. Each image generator has a local mask that indicates which pixels of the source image are to be transmitted to a frame buffer. The local mask may also be used to indicate which pixels of the source image are to be updated by the image generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark D. Atkins
- 👤 Robert Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/12; G09G2340/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for generating composite images, comprising the steps of: (a) generating data of a first source image with a first image generator; (b) generating data of a second source image with a second image generator; (c) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with a first mask; and (d) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; step (c) comprises the step of transmitting each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (d) comprises the step of transmitting each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for generating composite images, comprising the steps of: (a) generating data of a first source image with a first image generator; (b) generating data of a second source image with a second image generator; (c) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with a first mask; and (d) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; step (c) comprises the step of transmitting each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (d) comprises the step of transmitting each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of updating each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; step (b) comprises the step of updating each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value; step (a) is implemented in parallel with step (b); and step (c) is implemented in parallel with step (d); and further comprising the steps of: (e) updating said first mask; (f) updating said second mask; and (g) repeating steps (a) through (d) in accordance with said updated first and second masks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of generating data of said first source image with said first image generator in accordance with said first mask, and step (b) comprises the step of generating data of said second source image with said second image generator in accordance with said second mask.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of updating each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (b) comprises the step of updating each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is implemented in parallel with step (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is implemented in parallel with step (d).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (e) updating said first mask; (f) updating said second mask; and (g) repeating steps (a) through (d) in accordance with said updated first and second masks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7, wherein step (e) comprises the step of updating said first mask in accordance with a cache-consistency algorithm, and step (f) comprises the step of updating said second mask in accordance with said cache-consistency algorithm.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for generating composite images, comprising: (a) a first image generator for: (1) generating data of a first source image, and (2) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with a first mask; and (b) a second image generator for: (1) generating data of a second source image, and (2) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; said first image generator transmits each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator transmits each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for generating composite images, comprising: (a) a first image generator for: (1) generating data of a first source image, and (2) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with a first mask; and (b) a second image generator for: (1) generating data of a second source image, and (2) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; said first image generator transmits each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator transmits each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first image generator updates each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; said second image generator updates each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said first image generator functions in parallel with said second image generator; and further comprising a mask generator for generating and updating said first and second masks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first image generator generates data of said first source image in accordance with said first mask, and said second image generator generates data of said second source image in accordance with said second mask.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said first image generator updates each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator updates each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first image generator functions in parallel with said second image generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a mask generator for generating and updating said first and second masks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said mask generator updates said first and second masks in accordance with a cache-consistency algorithm.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for generating composite images, comprising the steps of: (a) generating data of a first source image with a first image generator in accordance with a first mask; (b) generating data of a second source image with a second image generator in accordance with a second mask; (c) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with the first mask; and (d) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; step (a) comprises the step of updating each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (b) comprises the step of updating each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for generating composite images, comprising the steps of: (a) generating data of a first source image with a first image generator in accordance with a first mask; (b) generating data of a second source image with a second image generator in accordance with a second mask; (c) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with the first mask; and (d) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with a second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; step (a) comprises the step of updating each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (b) comprises the step of updating each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: step (c) comprises the step of transmitting each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and step (d) comprises the step of transmitting each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of updating each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; step (b) comprises the step of updating each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value; step (a) is implemented in parallel with step (b); and step (c) is implemented in parallel with step (d); and further comprising the steps of: (e) updating said first mask; (f) updating said second mask; and (g) repeating steps (a) through (d) in accordance with said updated first and second masks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) is implemented in parallel with step (b).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step (c) is implemented in parallel with step (d).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: (e) updating said first mask; (f) updating said second mask; and (g) repeating steps (a) through (d) in accordance with said updated first and second masks.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21, wherein step (e) comprises the step of updating said first mask in accordance with a cache-consistency algorithm, and step (f) comprises the step of updating said second mask in accordance with said cache-consistency algorithm.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for generating composite images, comprising: (a) a first image generator for: (1) generating data of a first source image in accordance with a first mask, and (2) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with the first mask; and (b) a second image generator for: (1) generating data of a second source image in accordance with a second mask, and (2) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with the second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; said first image generator updates each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator updates each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for generating composite images, comprising: (a) a first image generator for: (1) generating data of a first source image in accordance with a first mask, and (2) transmitting data of said first source image to a frame buffer in accordance with the first mask; and (b) a second image generator for: (1) generating data of a second source image in accordance with a second mask, and (2) transmitting data of said second source image to said frame buffer in accordance with the second mask, wherein: said first source image comprises a plurality of first-image pixels; said second source image comprises a plurality of second-image pixels; said first mask comprises a plurality of first-mask pixels, each of said first-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said first-mask pixels corresponding to one of said first-image pixels; said second mask comprises a plurality of second-mask pixels, each of said second-mask pixels having a corresponding value and each of said second-mask pixels corresponding to one of said second-image pixels; said first image generator updates each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator updates each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: said first image generator transmits each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said second image generator transmits each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein: said first image generator updates each of said first-image pixels having a corresponding first-mask pixel of non-zero value; said second image generator updates each of said second-image pixels having a corresponding second-mask pixel of non-zero value; and said first image generator functions in parallel with said second image generator; and further comprising a mask generator for generating and updating said first and second masks.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said first image generator functions in parallel with said second image generator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a mask generator for generating and updating said first and second masks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said mask generator updates said first and second masks in accordance with a cache-consistency algorithm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-13 | 1998-09-12 | 1999-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-13 | 2002-09-12 | 2003-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-13 | 2006-09-12 | 2007-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |